--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the last times that we played in…" description: "\"One of the last times that we played in the area before I wrote \"Allentown,\" I remember a guy coming up to us and saying, \"You're never coming back her..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/billy-joel-1000_bitter_one-of-the-last-times-that-we-played-in_1931989.jpg" --- # One of the last times that we played in the area before I… ![“One of the last times that we played in the area before I wrote "Allentown," I remember a guy coming up to us and saying, "You're never coming back here." I said, "Why do you say that?" He said, "Well, you're probably gonna become a big star. Nobody who ever becomes big comes back here." And I…” quote by Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/billy-joel-1000_bitter_one-of-the-last-times-that-we-played-in_1931989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/billy-joel-1000_bitter_one-of-the-last-times-that-we-played-in_1931989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/billy-joel-1000_bitter_one-of-the-last-times-that-we-played-in_1931989.jpg) > “One of the last times that we played in the area before I wrote "Allentown," I remember a guy coming up to us and saying, "You're never coming back here." I said, "Why do you say that?" He said, "Well, you're probably gonna become a big star. Nobody who ever becomes big comes back here." And I felt so sad for this kid, he seemed so bitter about it. I said, "Well, I'm coming back, no matter what."” [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young musician is told that success means leaving his roots, but he vows to return despite fame **In simple terms:** Success shouldn't erase one's origins; stay true to where you began Key Takeaway Commit to returning to your roots regardless of fame Themes loyalty identity humility Mood reflective determined hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - touring - career milestones - community events - personal reflections Key Concepts Nostalgia personal integrity celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - How will you stay connected to your origins when you succeed? - What sacrifices are worth making for authenticity? A Different Perspective Fame can create distance, making promises hard to keep ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I run into people from the Lehigh Valley and Allentown all over the world, and they're obviously doing pretty well. They say, "Oh, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-run-into-people-from-the-lehigh-valley-and-allentown-all-over-the/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I always really liked Allentown. The people were very down to earth. It reminded me a lot of my hometown in Minnesota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-always-really-liked-allentown-the-people-were-very-down-to-earth-it/) [Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/) > [All of my relatives on both sides of my family are from Allentown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-stavridis/all-of-my-relatives-on-both-sides-of-my-family-are-from-allentown/) [James G. Stavridis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-stavridis/) > [“The snow is coming," she said. "Soon it will be snow time. Together then as in other snow times. Drinking busthead 'round the fire.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/the-snow-is-coming-she-said-soon-it-will-be-snow-time-together-then/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“I stared at Kate in disbelief. "I know, I know," she said, walking toward me, hands raised as if to calm a dangerous beast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/i-stared-at-kate-in-disbelief-i-know-i-know-she-said-walking-toward/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [“Well, I just want you to know I’m coming to get you at five,” he said. “I’m having Ree withdrawals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/well-i-just-want-you-to-know-i-m-coming-to-get-you-at-five-he-said-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“If I’d known you were coming, he said, I woulda worn my lululemons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/if-i-d-known-you-were-coming-he-said-i-woulda-worn-my-lululemons/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [“And for some reason, men and women who told the tale often found a need to add almost identical words. The storm is coming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/and-for-some-reason-men-and-women-who-told-the-tale-often-found-a/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I'm coming back to what you said about seeing and listening and hearing. I had to think of a remark that I heard yesterday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/i-m-coming-back-to-what-you-said-about-seeing-and-listening-and/) [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) > [“They’re not coming back the same, are they?” “What?” “Them,” she said. “Dawson and Daemon and Dee. They’re not going to come back the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/they-re-not-coming-back-the-same-are-they-what-them-she-said-dawson/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I didn’t know you were going. What are you coming for?" she said, letting fall the hand with which she had grasped the doorpost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-didn-t-know-you-were-going-what-are-you-coming-for-she-said-letting/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The early church didn’t say, ‘Look what the world is coming to!’ They said, ‘Look what has come into the world’!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-f-h-henry/the-early-church-didn-t-say-look-what-the-world-is-coming-to-they/) [Carl F. H. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-f-h-henry/) > [Joss Whedon said to me, 'If you think you are taking over the show, you have got another think coming.' He said, 'You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsters/joss-whedon-said-to-me-if-you-think-you-are-taking-over-the-show-you/) [James Marsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsters/) > [“He caught hold of my hand. “Sydney, please don’t do this,” he begged. “No matter how confident you feel, no matter how careful you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-caught-hold-of-my-hand-sydney-please-don-t-do-this-he-begged-no/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I waited for you last night, and I fell asleep with the phone in my palm. when I woke up the next morning, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryne-brooks/i-waited-for-you-last-night-and-i-fell-asleep-with-the-phone-in-my/) [Sheryne Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryne-brooks/) ## More by Billy Joel > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Only the good die young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/only-the-good-die-young/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies, all I want is someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-don-t-want-some-pretty-face-to-tell-me-pretty-lies-all-i-want-is/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [She's the quiet type who's into heavy metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/she-s-the-quiet-type-who-s-into-heavy-metal/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Rock and roll just used to be for kicks, now a days it's politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/rock-and-roll-just-used-to-be-for-kicks-now-a-days-it-s-politics/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/don-t-make-music-for-some-vast-unseen-audience-or-market-or-ratings/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Usually when I'm writing, I try to write fairly quickly. If a song sits around too long, it starts to take on a stink.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/usually-when-i-m-writing-i-try-to-write-fairly-quickly-if-a-song-sits/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My daughter sent me on a mission to get as many autographs as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/my-daughter-sent-me-on-a-mission-to-get-as-many-autographs-as-possible/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [ I was listening to stuff and I realized that I've had a lot of different lives. You know the theory \[that says\] every seven… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-was-listening-to-stuff-and-i-realized-that-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If you said good-bye to me tonight, There would still be music left to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-you-said-good-bye-to-me-tonight-there-would-still-be-music-left-to/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If I need a cause for celebration, Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind, I rely on my imagination, And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-i-need-a-cause-for-celebration-or-a-comfort-i-can-use-to-ease-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm carrying the weight of all the useless junk and modern man accumulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-carrying-the-weight-of-all-the-useless-junk-and-modern-man/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [What will it take for you to believe in me, the way that I believe in you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/what-will-it-take-for-you-to-believe-in-me-the-way-that-i-believe-in/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) [Explore all 311 Billy Joel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More Bitter quotes > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [One may have been a fool, but there's no foolishness like being bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/one-may-have-been-a-fool-but-there-s-no-foolishness-like-being-bitter/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Life is too bitter already, without territories and wars and noble feuds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-too-bitter-already-without-territories-and-wars-and-noble/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [“Without the bitter, the sweet ain’t as sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-the-bitter-the-sweet-ain-t-as-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-a-sudden-jar-can-cause-me-to-speak-an-impatient-unloving-word-then/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) Browse all 1,923 Bitter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the last times that we played in the area before I wrote \"Allentown,\" I remember a guy coming up to us and saying, \"You're never coming back here.\" I said, \"Why do you say that?\" He said, \"Well, you're probably gonna become a big star. Nobody who ever becomes big comes back here.\" And I felt so sad for this kid, he seemed so bitter about it. 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